[Signals99]

If that's the house in the moat, and using the round tower as a reference point, that puts the photographer in St. Margarets Street, just below the entrance to Vines Lane and next to the entrance to Love Lane, in my mind, if so where's the Robuck Arms? Or am I missing something.

[smiffy]

CAT has it. I was scratching my head for half an hour before I realised. I think the clearly printed and authoritative "Maidstone Museum" deceived me a bit - obviously even official sources can sometimes be prone to error.

[Lyn L]

The houses in the moat ?

[CAT]

Is the image reversed?

[smiffy]

This is a picture of the Castle that probably dates from around 1900. Try as I might, I couldn't reconcile this view with the modern one despite the fact that the road layout hasn't changed. It finally dawned on me why, and no doubt many members here will twig sooner than I did.

[smiffy]

The Rochester tank in all its glory, shame it was scrapped:

[smiffy]

I think you're right Signals - there's a whole section on the forum about WW1 tanks:

http://www.kenthistoryforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=1811.0

[Signals99]

Smiffy -  point of interest ref. the Ashford tank. At one time it contained low voltage switch gear, part of the town network, so maybe that's why it's still in situ?

[Rochester-bred]

I have lived in Rochester since 1958 and have always visited the castle many times during the year and have never seen a tank there in that time .

[smiffy]

Looks like the only one left in the country now on public display is in Ashford.

[CAT]

its gone by 1947 as can be seen on an image from 'Britain from above'. I assume it was removed during the early years of WWII for scrap as a lot of them where?

[Mike S]

There was definitely not a tank there when I lived in the area 1956 - 1966.

[KeithJG]

Not disputing what anyone says but if the tank was put there in 1919 and it was still there in 1976 why is it not here in this shot in 1948?

The concrete plinth is still there as it has always been........anyone know the date of removal?

[Stewie]

Just  a thought but the four masted ship in the background of KeithJG's aerial picture isn't the Arethusa by chance? Although my memories of this ship were always moored at Upnor, I have seen a painting by local artist Geoffrey Hall showing it roughly in this position.

[KeithJG]

This has my memory cells on the go....i moved to Frindsbury in October 1956 when i was 8yrs and from then on used to frequent the Rochester Swimming Pool during holidays and ordinary weekends.

Being an only child i was always alone and so wondered around anywhere of interest on my way to catch the bus... i do remember from around `56 to `63 scaffolding being all around the rear of the Castle, it covered the toilet side and the rear side up to the sloping footpath ........the reason i remember is because i was a wonderer and wanted to get around the back just because i wanted to and couldn`t. I don`t think this would have anything to do with the King`s School....scaffolding??

The scaffolding could not of been later years as i had moved away and never went near the place until around 8yrs back.

I know there has been alterations to the entrance but that did not include rear scaffolding?

I am also on another mission now as i saw a photo of the tank in my Stepmum`s photo`s ...she died 3yrs ago and i am still going through her old belongings she kept.

...................................................................................

Just found this and is interesting reading it mentions the bridge over the dungeons in the small original visitors entrance:

http://www.kentarchaeology.org.uk/Research/Pub/ArchCant/Vol.027%20-%201905/027-09.pdf

Also a Castle Plan showing the tunnel under in the bottom left image.